Clamp for an anodeless riser, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

ABSTRACT

A repair clamp made of heavy-duty plastic material. The repair clamp is used to fix a problem on an anodeless riser. The clamp has two sides and six stainless steel bolts and nuts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is based on and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/766,331 filed on Jan. 11,2005.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel and unique clamp for ananodeless riser, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a heavy-duty repairclamp which uses an anodeless riser having a grey shield to protect aplastic gas line, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.

The term “anodeless riser” as used herein means a metallic casing with anon-metallic pipe disposed within the metallic casing, and whereincathodic protection is not necessary because the outside metallic casingdoes not carry the fluid therein.

In the gas industry, an anodeless riser takes the form of a steel casingwith a plastic pipe inside. The plastic pipe inside the steel casing isthe service line carrying gas to the meter of a customer.

The primary advantage of an anodeless riser is that it does not have tobe cathodically protected because the outside steel casing is not thegas carrier. The plastic pipe inside the steel casing is the gascarrier. When installing steel risers connected to a plastic pipe by atransition fining, one should make sure that the steel riser is coatedand cathodically protected.

Heretofore, the gray steel shields used on the anodeless risers havebegun to pull away from the transition coupling. This causes the plasticcoupling to be exposed to the sunlight, and also provides potential forexternal damage, such as from weed whackers.

The present invention solves the aforementioned problem, and alsoprovides an invention which can be used not only for repairing, but forinitial installations.

It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversionsof the conventional and present techniques and devices, and to provide asimple solution to such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a clamping apparatus an anodeless riser,comprising: two half clamping members having interior portions shaped toreceive therewithin and surround said anodeless riser; connection meansfor releasably and selectively securing together said two half clampingmembers with said anodeless riser received therewithin; and said twohalf clamping members being provided with exterior portions whichfacilitate operation of said connection means.

The present invention provides a clamp, which can be used as a repairclamp or for initial installations, to avoid and/or to fix theaforementioned problem with anodeless risers.

The present invention provides a clamp as described hereinabove, whereinthe clamp is fabricated from a heavy-duty plastic type material.

The present invention provides a clamp as described hereinabove, whereinthe clamp has two side portions and six stainless steel bolts and nuts.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a clamp asdescribed hereinabove wherein the clamp protects the plastic gaslinefrom being exposed to sunlight and any potentials of external damage.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention willbecome apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area oftechnology and to other persons after having been exposed to the presentpatent application when read in conjunction with the accompanying patentdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an elevational view of one-half of a clamp inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the FIG. 1 device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the clamp in accordance withthe present invention being mounted on a gas service line.

FIG. 4 depicts a top plan view of the FIG. 3 arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown the novel clamp device 10having two identical half portions 11 and 12.

The service adaptor 14 includes an interior plastic pipe 32 which is thegas carrier, and an external protective metallic casing or shield 13.

Each half portion 11 and 12 of the novel clamp device 10 includes abottom interior curved portion 33 and an upper interior hex-shaped 34 toaccommodate and surround the service adaptor 14 therewithin.

For installing the clamp 10, any exposed metallic casing or shield 13should be prepared in accordance with corrosion procedures.

Thereafter, any conventional clamps, which are attached to theprotective metallic casing or shield 13, such as hose clamps, should beremoved. Then, one half portion 11 or 12 of the clamp device 10 shouldbe put over the service adaptor 14, and matched up with the other halfportion 12 or 11, respectively, of the clamp device 10.

Thereafter, there should be installed the six stainless steel bolts 15,16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 and nuts 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 leaving the twoholes 27 and 28 of the clamp device 10 open for tagging or to attach alocating wire 29, if required.

Then, the bolts 15, 16, 17, 18 and 29 should be tightened until bothflanges 35, 36, 37 and 38 of the clamp device 10 are in contact, but notovertightened.

There has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and describedhereinabove only one unique and novel embodiment of the presentinvention which can be practiced and constructed in many differentconfigurations, arrangements of components, sizes, and shapes.

It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations,and other uses and applications will become apparent to those personsskilled in this particular area of technology and to others after havingbeen exposed to the present patent specification and accompanyingdrawings.

Any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention are therefore covered by and embraced within thepresent invention and the patent claims set forth hereinbelow,

1. A clamping apparatus for an anodeless riser, comprising: two halfclamping members having interior portions shaped to receive therewithinand surround said anodeless riser; connection means for releasably andselectively securing together said two half clamping members with saidanodeless riser received therewithin; and said two half clamping membersbeing provided with exterior portions which facilitate operation of saidconnection means.
 2. A clamping apparatus according to claim, wherein:said exterior portions of said two half clamping members include matingflanges.
 3. A clamping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: saidexterior portions of said two half clamping members include matingflanges provided with a predetermined number of apertures arranged in apredetermined geometric pattern.
 4. A clamping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein: said exterior portions of said two half clampingmembers include mating flanges provided with a predetermined number ofapertures arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern.
 5. A clampingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said connection means includesbolts and nuts therefor.
 6. A clamping apparatus according to claim 2,wherein: said connection means includes bolts and nuts therefor.
 7. Aclamping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said connection meansincludes bolts and nuts therefor; and said mating flanges are shaped andarranged to align pairs of said apertures for passage therethrough ofone of said bolts for releasably and selectively securing together saidtwo half clamping members with said anodeless riser receivedtherewithin.
 8. A clamping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: saidconnection means includes bolts and nuts therefor; and said matingflanges are shaped and arranged to align pairs of said apertures forpassage therethrough of one of said bolts for releasably and selectivelysecuring together said two half clamping members with said anodelessriser received therewithin.
 9. A clamping apparatus according to claim1, wherein: said interior portions of said two half clamping members areprovided with an interior hex-shaped section adjacent an upper portionof said two half clamping members, and an interior curved sectionadjacent a bottom portion of said two half clamping members.
 10. Aclamping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said interior portionsof said two half clamping members are provided with an interiorhex-shaped section adjacent an upper portion of said two half clampingmembers, and an interior curved section adjacent a bottom portion ofsaid two half clamping members
 11. A clamping apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein: said interior portions of said two half clampingmembers are provided with an interior hex-shaped section adjacent anupper portion of said two half clamping members, and an interior curvedsection adjacent a bottom portion of said two half clamping members. 12.A clamping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said interiorportions of said two half clamping members are provided with an interiorhex-shaped section adjacent an upper portion of said two half clampingmembers, and an interior curved section adjacent a bottom portion ofsaid two half clamping members.
 13. A clamping apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein: said interior portions of said two half clampingmembers are provided with an interior hex-shaped section adjacent anupper portion of said two half clamping members, and an interior curvedsection adjacent a bottom portion of said two half clamping members. 14.A clamping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said interiorportions of said two half clamping members are provided with an interiorhex-shaped section adjacent an upper portion of said two half clampingmembers, and an interior curved section adjacent a bottom portion ofsaid two half clamping members.
 15. A clamping apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein: said interior portions of said two half clampingmembers are provided with an interior hex-shaped section adjacent anupper portion of said two half clamping members, and an interior curvedsection adjacent a bottom portion of said two half clamping members. 16.A clamping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: said interiorportions of said two half clamping members are provided with an interiorhex-shaped section adjacent an upper portion of said two half clampingmembers, and an interior curved section adjacent a bottom portion ofsaid two half clamping members.
 17. A clamping apparatus according toclaim 3, including: a locating wire disposed through at least two ofsaid apertures provided in said flanges.
 18. A clamping apparatusaccording to claim 5, including: a locating wire disposed through atleast two of said apertures provided in said flanges.
 19. A clampingapparatus according to claim 7, including: a locating wire disposedthrough at least two of said apertures provided in said flanges.
 20. Aclamping apparatus according to claim 11 including: a locating wiredisposed through at least two of said apertures provided in saidflanges.